But for some reason, the BYU Alumni Association recently deleted their 2002 Alumni Spotlight profile of one of the most powerful and prominent BYU Cougars out there, one who “oversaw all of President Bush’s lawyer-related appointments. Last year, he assumed additional duties as a member of the White House Counsel’s office. Sampson provides legal advice to the President, helps develop policy initiatives, and ensures that the constitutional powers of the Presidency are both protected and exercised appropriately.”
Fortunately the Internet Archive has preserved a copy, and I went ahead and reprinted it below.
From the BYU Alumni Association [original URL, archive.org version]
Alumni Spotlight
Presidential Counsel
On his path to the White House, D. Kyle Sampson, ’93 (Noelle Transtrum, ’93), has blazed a trail for BYU graduates to follow. During the past seven years, Sampson has served as a lawyer at the highest levels of all three branches of government: the Congress, the White House, and the Judiciary. As a legal advisor to President George W. Bush, Sampson is playing a key role in the lives of both American citizens and BYU alumni.
After the 2000 election, Sampson joined the White House and oversaw all of President Bush’s lawyer-related appointments. Last year, he assumed additional duties as a member of the White House Counsel’s office. Sampson provides legal advice to the President, helps develop policy initiatives, and ensures that the constitutional powers of the Presidency are both protected and exercised appropriately.
“We are blessed with the best system of government in the world,” says Sampson. “The founding fathers were truly wise men raised up to establish our Constitution.”
After leaving BYU in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in American Studies, Sampson went on to graduate with honors from the University of Chicago Law School. BYU helped him prepare for his work as a law clerk to a federal appeals court judge, as Counsel to Senator Orrin Hatch, and now as Associate Counsel to President Bush. “At BYU, I learned to work hard, play well, and love learning—all skills I use today.”
Although he may consider his role to be of small importance, some BYU graduates may not agree. Taylor Oldroyd, a friend of Sampson and member of the Bush Administration, feels he has been instrumental in assisting the Church. “Kyle has played a key role in many of the Administration’s personnel decisions and is the reason so many BYU alumni, including myself, have positions in the Bush Administration.”
Working long days for President Bush, he often returns home just in time to read to his children and put them to bed. Sampson appreciates his wife Noelle for supporting him while he serves his country.
“There is a small moment in time when I can engage in this sort of public service,” says Sampson. “I know it will come to an end, so that makes the long hours worthwhile.”
[image recovered via zefrank]